St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-04-14

reliefs of domestic life. 1t is part of
the municipality set off to one-sided,
unrelieved, Oriental heathenism. Moth
ing penetrates this mass to change it.
Individuals going out and becoming
Christians make no impression on it,
for they do not return to become a per-
manent leaven in it, but soon, like the
others, go back to the home land.
Civil and commercial influences fall
powerless on the iron-clad stronghold.
5. These quarters, while maintain
ing their locality and quality, are per-
petually changing in their personnel.
They are In perpetual fiux. The
average Chinaman comes to America n
little under eighteen years of age, re-
visits China once in five years-the
merchants going twice as often and,
at the end of twelve years from his
first landing, catches up his bundles,
swings them on pole across his
shoulder, and is off for the steamer to
take him for the last time to the Flow
cry Kingdom, and IL fresh Chinaman
takes his place. No one can under
stand the web of Chinese life that is
weaving in California who does not
take into account this shuttle, filed
with Cinnamon, flying back and forth
between China and our shores, by
means of which it is woven. Or,
changing the figure, the Asiatic life on
our coast is not an orchid plucked
from its native seat, ten thousand miles
away, thrust out on Il piece of bark or
stick, and living on the air; but it has
a tap-root that runs back into China,
and, having no means of self-perpetu-
r lNxr 10
that come through that. Sever the
tap-rOOt, and it slowly withers and
disappears. AS it is, the ChinadOm
does not change the inmates are
changed.
g. These patches grow. No Amer
lean likes to live next to them. When
they come up to one of another race,
he vacates his rented property, or sells
out, and fees and it is always a Chi
naman who enters the vacated premi-
SEES. When they cross street and en-
ter on a new block, the whole block is
doomed. The American city slowly
retires before the Asatic fungus. This
process goes on now, though, since
the restriction act went into effect, in
1882, the number of Cinnamon in the
state has fallen off, say twenty per
cent. the wrongs and Outrages in
f1icted on the dispersion are driving
those that remain to the larger centers.
Z. These pagan masses are imper-
viOus to American law. Our legal sys-
tenn beats against them and is dissOlv-
ed into spray, or turns and whirls in
eddies, or passes in swift currents
around them. When a Chinaman is
caught in crime outside,Or wh,n tbs
deed can be proved on him by outside
witnesses, he is easily enough brought
to Justice. But Offenses among them
selves are rarely brought into our
courts, unless it is ii noisy quarrel pub
fishing itself. They settle their own
difficulties in their own way, but with
great mystery about the proceedings.
They have their own method of max
ing contracts, enforcing payments, and
of civil aud criminal administration
generally. 1t is Il regnum an regnO.
8. All these evils are made worse
by being conspicuous. The Chinese
not only retain their peculiar manners,
customs, life, language-Only learning
a little "pigeon" or business English
but also retain their distinctive cue and
dress. Rou recognize them as far us
you can see them. The town Instant
ly changes it's appearance when you
pass into their section. The old build
ings may be there, but they have don
ned the foreign look. The hive is eau
casian, the swarm, inside and out, Chi
neSe.
9. Unrestricted, this would be
vast immigration. In 1880 the census
reports $4,000 in California. But in
China there are waiting millions
crowded, half-paid, impoverished, who
would like to improve their condition.
if open, offers too good an
opportunity not to be improved. 1t is
a tempting gold mine almost in sight
A few years absence will make one a
Chinese gentleman. Moreover, the
carrying trade is hungry, eager to push
its prOws into every bay, inlet and riv
er of China, and to send its messengers
to scOur the land to get the teeming
emigrants to crowd its fOrecastles and
decks i'll order to satisfy its unhealthy
greed. If left to China and to com
merce. this coast would soon be crowd
ed with ChinadOms, and Americans
would be driven from the fairest seats
of civilization and made to retire else
where. Nor would the process be con-
fined to California; it would extend
into the Eastern cities.
| will repeat that these views are
those of the class making most sacri-
flee and doing most to ChristianiZe the
Chi and do them good.
Frank PiXIey on Mexico.